At a time when COP30 has highlighted the urgency of a low-carbon industrial model, Morocco faces an inevitable transformation: turning the circular economy into a true engine of competitiveness. The roundtable organized by SUEZ Morocco on November 25 brought this need to the forefront, posing a central question: how do we transition from fragmented experiences to a coherent industrial model capable of securing resources and supporting economic sovereignty?
This debate brought together public decision-makers, industrial leaders, and experts, moderated by Doha Lkasmi. From the outset, Abdellatif Maâzouz emphasized the role of local territories in this transition: waste must be viewed as local resources capable of feeding productive ecosystems. This observation points to a broader reality: despite pioneering initiatives, particularly in the automotive sector, the circular economy is still far from being a national reflex.
The discussion extensively addressed the gap between ambition and practice. Today, the majority of industrial waste follows a linear path—produce, use, dispose of—without real integration into value chains. Existing projects mainly rely on voluntary commitments, lacking an incentivizing regulatory framework or structured traceability. For Mohamed Bachiri, a shift will only occur if solutions become economically viable and easy to integrate into industrial processes, a perspective largely shared by Mehdi Sahel, who reminds us that sustainable mobility cannot be decarbonized without circularity throughout the entire supply chain.
The issue of industrial sovereignty quickly emerged as a major concern. Morocco has successfully positioned itself as a global automotive platform but remains dependent on foreign suppliers for basic components. Reducing this dependency requires the local integration of processed raw materials, an area where circularity can play a key role. There are already existing examples, such as the partnership between Renault and Maghreb Steel, which has enabled the reinjection of metal waste into local production, yielding both economic and environmental benefits.
However, a major obstacle remains: regulation. Law 28-00 classifies materials resulting from production as “waste,” a designation that imposes heavy constraints in terms of transport, traceability, and storage. This classification hampers their industrial reuse. Several participants, including Mohamed Oulkhouir, advocate for an intermediate status, such as “by-product,” to facilitate the circulation and valorization of materials without overburdening procedures.
Despite these hurdles, the country is already distinguishing itself. Morocco ranks among the global leaders in industrial ecology, just behind Denmark and the United Kingdom. But this advantage can diminish quickly. European standards concerning carbon footprints will compel a reconfiguration of global supply chains: a non-circular product will become increasingly uncompetitive. Thus, the circular economy is becoming a prerequisite for access to international markets.
The roundtable organized by SUEZ Morocco conveys a clear message: the industrial future of the country will depend on its ability to adapt its legal framework, establish viable economic models, encourage synergies between sectors, and finally transition from experimental management to the industrialization of circularity. This transition is no longer an option but an essential step to preserve Morocco’s competitiveness.